Combination switch



"-. Nov. 6, 1923.

' Filed Ana. 2:, 1919 E. w. CHANDLER COMBINATION SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,3 /2 I O O 0 all e -/J /G e 3 lo I H H IH I'IIJIII I I I 4 :g a

I bl H I! Fl Z M I I I I Nov. 6 1923. 1,473,463

' 4 E. WPCHANDLER 'COMBINATION SWITCH Filed Aug. 23, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 6, 1 923.

' ooMBInA'rIon'swTro-H.

1 Application filed Augustus, 1919, Se-ria1 No. 319,486.;

new and useful Improvements in Combina-f tion Switches, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to combination switches on an electrical circuit and has reference to its use on the ignition systems of internal combustion engines, especially on automobilesa'nd power vehicles The inven tion consists of an attractive-and compact switchmechanism that canonly be properly operated by those who are familiarwith the combination-and will prevent unauthorized persons from closing the electric circuit and starting the engine. Also when the combination isset and the circuit closed, means are provided to :keepothers from reading the combination. Also the construction of theswitch is such that the combination can be easily changed from time to'time; if it be deemed advisable. The parts are all. enclosed'and cannot be tampered with unless the'switch is removed and taken apart. It is realized that all'such switches can be wired around, but undoubtedly the timeit would take to do this or; work out the combination will tend to discourage any unauthorized use of the/motor.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1' is 25 (Figure 4) removed. Figure 2 is a plan showing the slotted guard part 25, with the index knobs of the sliding contacts 17, 18 and, 19 pointing respectively to their appropriate row of figures, which are permanently marked on the top of the guard part. Figure 3 is a plan of-the bottom of'the' base part 23 (shown in section in Figures). Figured is a section of Figure 2, along the line was, the cover 21 being in closed position.

sliding contacts ,-17 18 and 19. Figure 6 is an end elevation of same. Figure 7 is a plan of the underneath side of the guard part 25 showing the corrugations 29, adapted to en- Figure'5 is a sideelevation of one of the gage the sliding contacts 17, 18 and19revspectively. I

Figures 1 and t show the structure of the switch quite plainly. The base'parti23 has five'parallel grooves running lengthwiseof the switch. In thecentral and outergrooves are placed smooth bars orstrips of non-conducting material 3, 5 and 7 and in the other two grooves are placed the metal barsor strips-i and 6. Next to the outer groove on each side are placed the metalbars 2 and, 8. 7

Bar-2 is connected by a metal striptothe key 11, Figure 1.' Bent pieces of conducting; material, 13, 14:,-15-and15 adapted to fit over the ridges between the five grooves are placed so that their ends are clamped by the.

bars 3 .1:,5, 6 and 7 respectively. These ridges between the grooves are each notched according to the number of numerals to be used in the combinations,:.in this instance,*

ten, as shown in the-drawings, and-the, bent conducting pieces ,are'setinthenotches cor-. responding to the number chosen to-be one of the combination, in this case, two, five, ninefi There is only one-bent conductor piece forieach ridge and all. the notchesineachw ridge have non-conducting fillers except-the notch occupied by the bent metal conductor, so that the top 'of each. ridge is smooth and anyone. disposed to tamper with the switch could not discover by feeling with a'wire 8 which was the metal filled notch. The bars and bent conductors areso arranged that a plan,iwith the cover21 and the guard part their top surfaces all lie in thesameplane.

The bars are fastened down firmly by screws. i I

at each end, the metal bars thus making a good'contact withthe' ends of the bent conductor pieces. 1 I

The sliding contacts17, 1.8- and 19 are shownin detail in Figures 5 and 6. A metallie conductor 80,with the contact, pieces 9 35. afii'xed'to the bottom of each leg respec tivelyyis fastenedto an insulating block 27.; v in The-spreader part. 32, withsliding block'34' ETHELBERT' w. CHANDLER, or PonTLA'nn, onneion.

pieces 83, 34 and 35 are all in the same plane. Contact parts 33 and 35 must be metallic conductors; the sliding block 3% may beof non-conducting material. F astened to the top of the insulating block 27 by a thin and comparatively wide piece of metal 26 is a knob, 17, 1.8 and 19, by which the sliding contacts are moved along the slots 20, Figure 2, until the index pointer on each knob or key, shown in Figure2, is opposite the number selected as one of the combination. The top of the insulating block 27 has a V shaped rib or projection 29", adapted to engage the corrugations 29, Figure 7,on the underneath side of the guard part 25, Figure 4, on each side of the slots 20. lVhen one of the keys 17, 18 and 19 is pressed downward, the spreader 32 causes the arms 30, 30, to rise slightly, throwing all the pressure on the smooth sliding block 3 and the projections 29 are out of engagement with the corrugations 29. This position is plainly shown in the left hand sliding contact in Figure 4, which can now be readily moved along thebar 8 on which it rests. In Figure 2 the contacts have been moved to the numbers two, five, nine, the operative combination. The metal bar 2, Figure 1, is connected as shown to the switch key 11, which is of any preferred type and by turning the key, contact is made with either the magneto through terminal 10 and wire 10, Figure 3, or with the battery, through ter minal 9 and the wire 9, Figure 3, or can be left out of connection with either when shifted to off position. The bar 8 is connected to the ground wire 8'.

The operation ofthe switch is now easily understood. The key 11 connects bar 2 with 10, the magneto terminal. ing contact 17, at index number 2, through contact piece 33, conductor 30 and contact piece 35, connects the metal bar 2 with the bent conductor piece13, metal bar 4 and bent conductor-piece 14, Sliding contact 18, at index number 5, furnishes a metal connection from 14 to conductor piece 15, to metal bar 6 and bent conductor piece 15 Sliding contact 19, at index number 9, connects 15 and metal bar 8, which completes the circuit through ground wire 8' and the ignition systerm to which the switch is connected in series is in electrical condition to operate and run the motor. The combination can be changed by placing the bent conductor pieces 13, 1 1, 15 and 15 in different notches, the middle conductors 14 and 15 being at the same numbers. Obviously the permutations may be increased by adding another row of figures and groove, with their accompanying sliding contacts and bent conductor piece. When the combination has been set, it is advisable to slide the cover 21, Figure 2, over the keys so that an observer cannot detect the combination. Or

The slid-- the covermay be hinged as desired. After shutting down the motor, all the keys should be shifted to the right to zero, or to the left to one, so no indication is givenof the combinatlon.

Many changes. and alterations can of 7 course be made in the construction and ar,

rangement of parts herein disclosed, all

within the scope of my invention andtherefore I do not limit myself to the exact and particular forms set forth.

I claim,

1. In a combination switch of the class V described, a grooved base part, with the ridges between the grooves notched to correspond to the number of figures usedin the combination, alternate longitudinal strips of non-conducting and conductingmaterial fastened to said base part so that their'top surfaces lie in the same plane, a bent'metallic conductor bridging each ridge, adapted to lit in a notch thereof and whose ends contact with the strips on either side, a longitudinally slotted guard plate attached to the said base part, with the index numbers of the combination on its upper'surface, sliding contacts adapted to complete the cir cuit'between the metallic strips and bent conductor pieces, when moved to predetermined positions as indicated by their index numbers, and means for covering the ex-' and in such position electrically connected 7 with a corresponding one of said movable switch members, and an intermediate movable switch contact member movable into and out of electrical contact with said fixed intermediate electric conductor and, adapted;

connected in series with to be electrically said pair of movable switch members in any position in which said intermediate fixed electric conductor is mounted.

3. In an electric switch'of the class described, an electric conductor adapted to be connected with a source of electric supply,

a second electric conductor adapted to be electrically connected with an ignition device, a pair of movable electrically conductive switch members mounted in detached relation and normally insulated from each other and each adapted to be electrically connected with a corresponding one of said electric conductors, an intermediate contact member adapted to be set in any desiredfone of a series-of serially marked positionsandin such positioir electrically connected with a corresponding one ofisaid pair of movableswitchmembers, and an intermediate movable switch contact meniber adapted to be co nnected, in series with said pair of movable switch members and said last-mentioned" intermediate contact member in a circuit embracing all of said elements. V V

4;. In an electric switch of the class described, the .combinationiof an electric con-c electrically connected-in any desired one of a series of marked positions with a cor responding one of said electric conductors,

an intermediate contact member adapted each other and each having apair of spring to be set in any desiredv predetermined marked position of a series of such marked positions, and electrically conductive means adapted to be electrically connected with said intermediate contact member and acting to electrically connect the same in series with said pair of movable, switch members.

5. In an electric switch of the class described, the combination of an electric conductor adapted tobe connected with a source of electric supply, a second electric conductor adapted to be electrically connected with an ignition device, a pair of movable electrically conductive switch mounted in detached relation and normally insulated from each other and each adapted to be electrically connected in any desired predetermined position of a series of marked positions with 1 a corresponding one of said electric conductors, a pluralityof in termediate contact members each adapted to be set in any desired predetermined serially marked position 'of-a-series of marked positions, and an intermediate movable contact member adapted to be moved to any desired predetermined position of a series of serially marked positions and acting in one, such position to connect said intermediate contact members and said pair of movable switch members inseries in a circuit in which all of said elements are connectedin series.

6. In an electric switch "of the class described, the combination 0]": an electric con-' ductor adapted to be connected with asource of electric supply, a second electric conductor adapted to be electrically -1c.on-'

nected with'an ignition device, a pair of movable electrically conductive switch members normally insulated from each other, each of said movable contact members being members a in sliding contact with a; corresponding "one otsaid electric conductors-and "movable while in such contact to any desired predetermined'marked positionofa series ofsuch marked positionsfa plurality of interme diate contact members each adapted} to be electrically connectedi'with a corresponding V y I one of said slidable switch members and anfl intermediate adapted to be moved to any desired" predeslidable "contact member termined position of a Series of serially marked positions and 'into and out of electrical connection in series with saidlast 7 mentioned plurality of intermediate contact" members and said pair of slidable. switch members.

7. In an electric switch of the class described, the combinationof' ametallic rod .adapted to be connected with 'a source of electric supply, a second metallic rod adapted to be electrically connected with anigni- Y tion device, a pair of slidable electrically conductive switch members mounted in detached relation and normallyinsulated from '96 f contact arms one of which is in'sliding 'contact with a corresponding one of said metallic rods, each of said spring contact members tact members each adapted to be set in any being slidable to, any desired predetermined o marked position of a series of such marked" positions, a plurality of intermediate condesired predetermined serially marked fixed position of ajseries of such marked posi' tions and in such position electr cally connected in series withe -a spring cont'actarm V of a corresponding one of said sliding switch contact members, and anintermediate slidaible contact member havinga; .pair of metallic spring contact arms and adapted to be 'moved to any desired pre-;'

determined position of aseries 0t seriallyl marked positions, said intermediate slidable contact member acting in one of such marked positions to connect said interdescribed, the combination of Y an electric or conductor adapted tobe connected with a' source of electric supply, a second electric," conductor adapted to be electrically con- 5 nected with 'an ignition device, a pair of movable electrically conductive switch members mounted in detached relation to each other and veach in sliding contact with one of said electric conductors, an intermediate movable contact, member slidably mounted and having a pair of metallic spring contact arms, and adapted to be moved to any de- I sired predetermined position-of a, series of serially marked positions, an insulated supno i porting track adapted to siidably support member in one position-of such series of 10 said intermediate slidable contact member, marked positions and acting to connect the spreader mechanism interposed between said same in series with said first-mentioned pair track and springiarms and adapted to raise of movable switch members, an insulatingthe latter outof circuit-closing position dursupport for said electrically conductive eleing the movement of said slidable interments, and airinsulat'ed cover provided with 15 mediate Contact member, electricallyconslots through which said slidabl'e contact i ductive means adapted to be electrically members extend. i C connected with said-intermediate contact ETHELBERT W.-CHANDLER 

